Scrapping of A380 jumbo jets has begun

Published: Thursday, May 9, 2019

The scrapping of two A380s stocked at Tarbes Lourdes airport has begun.

A photo published on Twitter on April 5, 2019, shows the two Superjumbos without engines and with a few missing parts including their cargo holds and a passenger door. 92% of the structure of an A380 can be recycled, reports Aero Telegraph.

9V-SKA and 9V-SKB were the third and fifth A380s to come out of Airbus assembly lines. They had been part of Singapore Airlines’ fleet since October 2007, leased by German Dr. Peters. Group, and have been stocked since June 2018 along with two others at Tarbes Lourdes Pyrénées Airport (LDE) in France, one of the biggest boneyard for unwanted aircraft in Europe.

Dr. Peters group still owns five other A380s which still operate on leased with Air France and Emirates.

Airbus has officially confirmed the end of A380 on February 14, 2019. Because of the lack of airline demand, superjumbo production is to cease in 2021.

Updated. Airbus has officially confirmed the end of A380. Because of the lack of airline demand, superjumbo production is to cease in 2021.

More A380s could join on the scrapyard as several airlines have announced they would reduce their fleet. Upon taking office, Air France new CEO Benjamin Smith had announced on November 26, 2018, that the French flag carrier would get rid of about 50% of its superjumbo fleet.

The A380 lost its popularity at Air France. The French flag carrier is to get rid of around 20% to 50% of their “super jumbo” fleet.